A Communist should have largeness of mind and he should be
staunch and active, looking upon the interests of the revolution
as his very life and subordinating his personal interests to those
of the revolution; always and everywhere he should adhere to
principle and wage a tireless struggle against all incorrect ideas
and actions, so as to consolidate the collective life of the Party
and strengthen the ties between the Party and the masses; he
should be more concerned about the Party and the masses than about
any individual, and more concerned about others than about
himself. Only thus can he be considered a Communist.

Every comrade must be
brought to understand that the supreme test of the words and deeds
of a Communist is whether they conform with the highest interests
and enjoy the support of the overwhelming majority of the
people.

At no
time and in no circumstances should a Communist place his personal
interests first; he should subordinate them to the interests of
the nation and of the masses. Hence, selfishness, slacking,
corruption, seeking the limelight, and so on, are most
contemptible, while selflessness, working with all one's energy,
whole-hearted devotion to public duty, and quiet hard work will
command respect.

"The Role of the
Chinese Communist Party in the National War" (October 1938),
Selected Works, Vol. II, p. 198.

Communists must be ready at
all times to stand up for the truth, because truth is in the
interests of the people; Communists must be ready at all times to
correct their mistakes, because mistakes are against the interests
of the people.

Communists must always go into the why's and
wherefore's of anything, use their own heads and carefully think
over whether or not it corresponds to reality and is really well
founded; on no account should they follow blindly and encourage
slavishness.

We should encourage comrades to take the
interests of the whole into account. Every Party member, every
branch of work, every statement and every action must proceed from
the interests of the whole Party; it is absolutely impermissible
to violate this principle.

Ibid.,
p. 44.

Communists should set an example in being practical
as well as far-sighted. For only by being practical can they
fulfil the appointed tasks, and only far-sightedness can prevent
them from losing their bearings in the march forward.

"The Role of the Chinese Communist Party in
the National War" (October 1938), Selected Works, Vol. II,
p. 198.

Communists should be the most farsighted, the most
self-sacrificing, the most resolute, and the least prejudiced in
sizing up situations, and should rely on the majority of the
masses and win their support.

"The
Tasks of the Chinese Communist Party in the Period of Resistance
to Japan" (May 3, 1937), Selected Works, Vol. I,
p. 274.*

Communists should set an example in study; at all
times they should be pupils of the masses as well as their
teachers.

"The Role of the Chinese
Communist Party in the National War" (October 1938), Selected
Works, Vol. II, p. 198.*

Every Communist working in the mass
movements should be a friend of the masses and not a boss over
them, an indefatigable teacher and not a bureaucratic
politician.

Ibid.*

Communists must
never separate themselves from the majority of the people or
neglect them by leading only a few progressive contingents in an
isolated and rash advance, but must take care to forge close links
between the progressive elements and the broad masses. This is
what thinking in terms of the majority means.

Ibid., p. 201.*

We Communists are like seeds
and the people are like the soil. Wherever we go, we must unite
with the people, take root and blossom among them.

We Communists
must be able to integrate ourselves with the masses in all
things. If our Party members spend their whole lives sitting
indoors and never go out to face the world and brave the storm,
what good will they be to the Chinese people? None at all, and we
do not need such people as Party members. We Communists ought to
face the world and brave the storm the great world of mass
struggle and the mighty storm of mass struggle.

The exemplary vanguard
role of the Communists is of vital importance. Communists in the
Eighth Route and New Fourth Armies should set an example in
fighting bravely, carrying out orders, observing discipline, doing
political work and fostering internal unity and solidarity.

"The Role of the Chinese Communist Party in
the National War" (October 1938), Selected Works, Vol. II,
p. 197.*

A Communist must never be opinionated or
domineering, thinking that he is good in everything while others
are good in nothing; he must never shut himself up in his little
room, or brag and boast and lord it over others.

Communists must listen
attentively to the views of people outside the Party and let them
have their say. If what they say is right, we ought to welcome it,
and we should learn from their strong points; if it is wrong, we
should let them finish what they are saying and then patiently
explain things to them.

Ibid.

The
attitude of Communists towards any person who has made mistakes in
his work should be one of persuasion in order to help him change
and start afresh and not one of exclusion, unless he is
incorrigible.

"The Role of the Chinese
Communist Party in the National War" (October 1938), Selected
Works, Vol. II, p. 198.

As for people who are politically
backward, Communists should not slight or despise them, but should
befriend them, unite with them, convince them and encourage them
to go forward.